SISTER JEANNEMARIE LORTIE

Sister Jeanne Marie (Marie Rose) Lortie, OSB, 95, died June 13, 2012, at St. Scholastica Monastery.

She was the fifth child born to Hormidas J. and Veronica (Kelly) Lortie on Feb. 4, 1917, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. She was in the seventy-seventh year of her Benedictine monastic profession.

Sister Jeanne Marie entered St. Scholastica Monastery on Sept. 12, 1933. She professed her triennial vows on Dec. 30, 1935, and her perpetual vows on July 11, 1940. She began her life-long love of teaching as an elementary school teacher at Our Lady of The Sacred Heart school in Cloquet, Minn., where she taught fifth grade from 1936-1938. She taught at Sacred Heart Cathedral Elementary School, Duluth (1938-40); St. Thomas School, International Falls (1940-41); St. Clement's School, Duluth (1941-45); St. Bridget's School, Minneapolis (1945-48); St. James School, Duluth (1948-53); and Assumption Hall School, Hibbing (1953). She then began teaching high school classes in Speech, Drama, Chorus, and French at Stanbrook Hall High School in Duluth (1955-65).

A scholar as well as a teacher, Sister Jeanne Marie received a B.A. in 1951 from The College of St. Scholastica with a major in English and minors in Music, History, and French. She received her M.A. from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., in 1955 where her major field of study was Speech and Drama with a minor in Interpretation and Music (choral). In addition, she received a grant to complete a European Travel Study Tour in 1960 for advanced study of French. Subsequently, she earned an M.A. in French from Laval University, Quebec City, Canada in 1965. She authored two music books published by Willis Music Company in Cincinnati. An accomplished musician both in voice and organ, she led many school choirs during her teaching missions and also gave private organ lessons. Sister Jeanne Marie authored two books-Gracious Living, published in 1970 and Hey Father, published in 1972. Both books addressed contemporary issues confronting the Church and life in religious communities. Gracious Living was far more than just an etiquette manual: it was her vision of living in religious community where taking great care in how one treated others was paramount in living the Christian life.

Sister travelled extensively over the United States and Canada giving workshops and lectures to over 3000 religious on Gracious Living and on historical topics from the archives of St. Scholastica Monastery. In 1971 she was nominated and accepted into membership of the International Platform Association. A talented speaker, she was also often invited to speak at ecumenical meetings and conferences. She belonged to numerous professional organizations, including The National Association of Speech Teachers, Benedictine Academy for Scholarly Studies, American Association of University Women, and held licenses in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois to judge speech, drama, and music contests.

Establishing Priory Press in 1972, Sister Jeanne Marie published a number of books written by community members and others. She celebrated her Golden Jubilee on June 16, 1985, and her 75th Jubilee on August 15, 2010.

Sister was preceded in death by her three sisters, Rita Lortie Culnan, Ann Lortie McKane, and Jeanne Lortie Morrisey.

In addition to the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, she is survived by her brother Dr. Paul Lortie and sister-in-law Marge of Sarasota, Fla., loving nieces, nephews, and many friends.

SERVICES: A Morning Prayer/Wake Service will be held Saturday, June 30, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, St. Scholastica Monastery, with visitation until 10:45 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel. Father Brian Schultz will preside. Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery. Memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery are preferred. Arrangements are by Dougherty Funeral Home.

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